MOSCOW. Oct 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow is very worried over the latest violations of the ceasefire understanding reached by Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres at their recent meeting.
"The latest escalation of violence was provoked by a terrorist attack on an Israeli settlement in the north of the Gaza strip Tuesday evening," says a statement by Alexander Yakovenko, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, that reached Interfax on Wednesday.
"The design of terrorists and other opponents of reconciliation was to thwart practical steps aimed at resolving the crisis," he said.
"The Palestine National Autonomy leaders have denounced the terrorist attacks and confirmed its resolve to take steps aimed at keeping the ceasefire. What is needed is that these statements be translated into action. Terrorism must be curbed," Yakovenko said.
He also called on the Israeli government "to show restraint and continue high level contacts with Palestinians so as to promote the normalization process."
"A withdrawal from the existing understandings can only add to the tensions and harm Israel's security," Yakovenko said.